“I’m not gonna make any friends!” was a common phrase I said to people before I left for college almost one year ago (oh my god, time goes so fast). Although I knew it wasn’t true, I refused to listen to reason when I said this phrase to my friends and family. Of course, I knew I was going to make friends but there was a little part of me that was scared that I was going to be alone for four years and not have any friends. When I first got to Delaware, the only people I knew on campus were my roommate and one girl from my hometown that I wasn’t really friends with. I was truly alone and without someone to help me make the friends I so desperately wanted. After the first day of the Hillel program I was at (honestly, I only did it so I could move in early), I felt a little defeated and let down by the people I had met already. Sure, they were great and they even invited me to go out with them, but when I was with them I felt awkward and I felt that I couldn’t be myself. However, there was this one girl in my group and although we didn’t really talk during those two days, she would later become one of my best friends here. The Hillel program came and went and actual move in day was here. I don’t remember much other than that it was hot and our first floor meeting was kind of weird. Little did I know that some of my best friends stood in that circle with me trying to learn everyone’s name and face on our new floor. Later, I can’t remember if it was later that day or the day after, me and my roommate wandered across the hall, introduced ourselves and the rest was history. I then found myself in a squad with people that I grew to love quickly. We ate meals together, talked about floor gossip, went to frat parties and just enjoyed each other’s company. Finally, I believed everyone who told me that yes, I would make friends and that no, I would not be alone for four years. My first college friends are ones that I hope to have around for a long time (little do they know there’s no getting rid of me now). They are some of the best people I have ever met and they have made this transition to college way easier than I thought it was going to be. They are the people that I go to when I cry, have a funny joke, or just when I want to hang out. They are my people. They are the people that I hope my kids surround themselves with. To those first friends of mine, I hope you know how much you truly mean to me. I hope you realize that I wouldn’t be the same person without you all. I hope you understand how much I have cherished our time together on Russell D2 and that, even when we did nothing together, I loved every second of it. I hope, that as we move on and live in different places with different people next year and beyond, we keep in touch and still have movie nights that turn into gossip sessions, family dinners, and birthday celebrations.

All that’s left to say is thank you. You all have made this year unforgettable.